Kenyan-Nigerian romantic comedy East West Love is set to hit cinemas in Kenya on 9 October 2026, with a simultaneous theatrical release in Nigeria, Canada and the UK. Release dates for Tanzania and Uganda will be announced at a later stage.
Directed by acclaimed Tanzanian filmmaker Seko Shamte, known for Binti, the film stars Sunshine Rosman (To Kill a Monkey) as Tito, a Nigerian event planner whose romantic escape to Mombasa takes an unexpected turn after she discovers that her boyfriend has been unfaithful.
Instead of abandoning the trip, Tito transforms it into a girls’ getaway with her best friend. Her plans take another unexpected turn when she meets Juma, played by Brian Abajah (Married to Work), a hotel manager whose spontaneous approach to life challenges Tito’s carefully controlled view of love and relationships.
Set primarily in the coastal city of Mombasa, with additional scenes filmed in Lagos, East West Love brings together Nigerian and Kenyan talent, including Efa Iwara (A Naija Christmas), Elma Mbadiwe (Over the Bridge) and Emmanuel Mugo (Safari).
The film is produced by Dolapo Adeleke (Just in Time) and Folashayo Oke Sobo (Princess on a Hill).
The October theatrical release follows the film’s world premiere in May, when it opened the 2026 NOW Film Festival in Paris, formerly known as the NollywoodWeek Film Festival. It also screened at Africa Film Fest Australia in September.
Pan-African entertainment company Okada Media is handling the film’s theatrical distribution across East Africa. The company’s distribution catalogue includes titles such as The Girl in the Yellow Jumper, Binti and Mvera, Kenya’s submission for the 2024 Academy Awards.
“East West Love brings culture, connection and comedy to the cinema screen, which is exactly the kind of story we are passionate about bringing to audiences. It is a perfect fit within the DNA of Okada Media,” said Serge Noukoue, co-founder of Okada Media.
